Bottle neck adapter for electric light sockets



United States Patent BOTTLE NECK ADAPTER FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOCKETS William N. de Sherbinin, Brookfield, Conn.

Application July 20, 1950, Serial No. 174,826

1 Claim. (Cl. 240--52.6)

This invention relates to electric light lamps.

The invention provides a novel adapter which makes it possible to convert readily, easily and economically, almost any bottle, vase, jug or oil lamp to an electric light lamp.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a bottle lamp utilizing an adapter embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of one form of stopper for an adapter embodying the invention;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of another form of stopper;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a further form of stopper.

Like characters of reference designate the same parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, reference character 10 indicates a bottle or vase which provides the base for the lamp illustrated, and which can be of any suitable size or shape. The adapter is inserted into and fits snugly in the opening in the neck of the bottle 11, and carries above it an electric light socket 12 of conventional form which receives an electric light bulb 13 to which is secured a shade 14 in the usual manner.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the adapter comprises an elongated hollow pin 15 which is threaded on its outer surface and is screwed into the lower end of the socket 12, and onto which is secured a section 16 of an elongated frusto-conical stopper 17, between the cap 18 and the nut 19 on the pin 15. The stopper 17 has a circular aperture 20 extending axially throughout its length, through which the pin 15 extends to secure the selected stopper section to the socket 12. As shown in Fig. 3, the stopper is scored circumferentially on its exterior surface, as indicated at 21, to designate sections such as the section 16. These scorings can be of any desired depth, from very light simply to indicate possible lines of separation, to very deep to permit the sections to be broken apart, if the material of the stopper permits, These scorings, however, may be omitted, if desired. The stopper 17 may be made of any suitable material, such as cork, rubber, plastic or the like.

In utilizing the stopper 17 to mount a socket 12 on a bottle, vase, jug or oil lamp, a section, such as section 16, of the stopper is selected which will fit snugly in the opening in the neck of the object, and that section is cut from the stopper and is mounted on the pin 15 as shown in Fig. 2 as has been previously described. One method of selecting the proper section is to insert the stopper in the neck of the bottle or vase and mark the stopper at the top of the neck and cut a section from that mark toward the smaller end of the stopper that will fit on the pin 15. The section selected, mounted on pin 15 which is threaded into the lower end of socket 12, is then inserted in the neck of the bottle or the like, as shown in Fig. 2, an electric light bulb is threaded into the socket 12 and the shade 14 is mounted on the bulb, and the lamp is completed.

The stopper 22 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is like stopper 17, excepting that the outer circumferential surface has a plurality of flutes 23 which extend lengthwise and along the elements of the stopper. As illustrated, the flutes are V-shaped and their intersecting sides form ridges of inverted V-shape. Grooves of other shapes may be employed, if desired. In some instances, the use of flutes will aid in obtaining a snug fit between the stopper section and the opening in the neck of the bottle or the like with which it is used.

The stopper 24 shown in Fig. 6 is like the stopper 22 excepting that the flutes 25 are spiralled about the outer surface of the stopper instead of being rectilinear as in Figs. 4 and 5.

The particular length of the stoppers 17, 22 and 24 will depend upon how wide a variety of sizes of openings in the necks of bottles, vases and the like, it is desired to include. Ordinarily, the stopper will be several times the length of a stopper section to be used with an adapter.

It will be understood that preferred forms of the invention have been selected for illustration and description, that changes may be made in the form, location, and relative arrangement of the several parts thereof without departing from the principles of the invention, and that the invention is not to be limited excepting by the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

As an article of manufacture, an elongated stopper unit to be cut into separate sections for fitting tightly into bottle necks of different diameters, said stopper unit having its exterior surface gradually tapered from top to bottom, and having a circular aperture extending axially throughout its length, and having a series of circular scorings on its side to allow cutting of the stopper into various diametered sections for fitting the neck of bottles to support an electric light socket, said aperture permitting the insertion of a pin therein which pin holds said electric light socket.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,615 Salomon May 29, 1900 1,241,576 Teague Oct. 2, 1917 1,577,539 Polk Mar. 23, 1926 2,076,782 Jedlicka Apr. 13, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 443,402 Great Britain Feb. 27, 1936 

